Show Search Results Show Browse

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rigwiddie, -widdé, n. and adj. Also: -widdy, -wyddie, -uidie; -wod(d)é, -wodie; -woodie, -woidie; (ringwoodie). [Sc. form of north. ME rygwythi, rigwethy (1419–20); Rig n. 1 and widdy.]

A. noun. A rope or band running across the back of a draught-horse and secured to the shafts of the cart or carriage to be drawn, a back-band.(a) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 514.
For xxiiij stane of towis to be thetis, soumes and rigwiddeis
1565 Rec. Privy C. I 403.
To furneis with all necessaris the said artailyearie viz. of cabillis, sowmis, theittis [pr. cheittis], rigwiddeis [etc.]
1585 Elphinstone Mun. 193/1.
Fyve haling towis and sex rigwiddeis
1595 Crim. Trials I ii 353.
The said Mr. Johnne … cuttit his plewis and rigwiddeis
1596–7 Edinb. B. Rec. V 178.
For cutting the rig wyddie of William Mcmaths cairt
1663 Donaldson Cramondiana 39.
To ane dozen rigwiddies to him, 6 s. 8 d.
1693 Edinb. Test. LXXX 2.
Tuo cairts saidells and tuo rone riguidies
(b) 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 4.
Rigwodeis
Ib. 52.
Rigwoddeis
Ib. 53.
Takell to be traces and rigwoddeis to the cairt hors
1625 Edinb. Test. LIII 114.
Ane irne rigwodie and ane pair ear ledderis

B. attrib., as adj. Only, dyslogistically, in collocation with witch.So too in the earliest example (1698) quoted by SND, s.v. Rigwiddie adj.? = ‘wizened and gnarled; tough and rugged-looking; ill-shaped’ (SND), but in early use perh. less specific ? = ill-favoured. 1648 Dumfries Kirk S. 20 March.
The bill of slander … against Jonet McKie in calling the said Jonet rigwoodie witch
1654 Ib. 5 July.
Margaret callit the supplicant a turner of ridles, a rigwiddy witch
1664 Gunn Cross Kirk, Peebles 190.
That the man's wife called Janet a ringwoodie witch
1688 Peebles B. Rec. II 125.
For scandalizeing her and calling her unsonsy loun and rigwoidie witch

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Rigwiddie n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rigwiddie>

36783

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: